Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products[em] [/em]

Successful product developers don’t quit once they’ve got a prototype in hand, says startup founder and tech journalist Eyal. In fact, he thinks that the most important, and the trickiest, part of the process is figuring out how to make your product indispensable to users. While getting his M.B.A., he became fascinated with the question of how successful tech companies managed to accomplish this goal. Eyal’s answer? Don’t rely on pricey marketing; link your service to your customers’ emotions and daily lives. The two most important factors in getting them “hooked” on a product are the frequency with which they use it and its perceived utility. Eyal aims to simplify this task through the “Hook Model,” consisting of internal and external triggers, action, variable reward, and investment. He names companies that have done it right, from household names like Snapchat and Pinterest to lesser-known examples like the Bible App. Eyal’s ideas are good, but his real impact comes from his relentless enthusiasm. Also worthwhile is his caution about maintaining ethical practices even while getting customers “hooked.” With concrete advice and tales from the product-development trenches, this is a thoughtful discussion of how to create something that users never knew they couldn’t live without. [em](Nov.) [/em]